Teams & Riders The Remco Evenepoel is the next Eddy Merckx thread

[Ilmaestro99]

Pogacar has 2x Lombardia (unbeaten), 1x Liege, 1x Flanders, Strade Bianche, Amstel Gold, fleche wallone, Gp Montreal, Tre valle varesine, Classica Jaen. Also podium in Tokyo and in Milano-Sanremo

Remco has 2x Liege (unbeaten), 1x worlds, 3x classica San sebastian (unbeaten), coppa bernocchi, Brussels cycling classic, druijvenkeors overjise.

Van der poel has 2x Flanders, 1x Roubaix, 1x Sanremo, 2x dwars door vlaanderen, Amstel Gold race, Strade bianche, Brabanse Pijl, Gp de Wallonie, antwerp port race, Gp de denain, 2x ronde van limburg, dwars door het hageland,

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Like travers la flandres being more important than WCRR and LBL?

I know you're just copying it from another poster, so not a personal reprimand, but having this title in French is pretty cringe. In Flanders we speak Dutch, not French. So using the French name of a Flemish race, unless you're discussing it in French, which is not the case here on an English forum, will be considered poor form by a lot of Flemish people. The reason why is quite historically charged, let's just say people my parents age were still forced to go to school in French, in Flanders.
Regardless the historical charge of the matter, it's like talking about the "Round of France" when you're discussing the Tour de France, in Danish.

 

[tobydawq]

I know you're just copying it from another poster, so not a personal reprimand, but having this title in French is pretty cringe. In Flanders we speak Dutch, not French. So using the French name of a Flemish race, unless you're discussing it in French, which is not the case here on an English forum, will be considered poor form by a lot of Flemish people. The reason why is quite historically charged, let's just say people my parents age were still forced to go to school in French, in Flanders.
Regardless the historical charge of the matter, it's like talking about the "Round of France" when you're discussing the Tour de France, in Danish.

I know, I always write Dwars when I'm too lazy to write Dwars door Vlaanderen.

I'm never too lazy to capitalise my beginning letters of proper nouns, however, and only wrote it like that to mock the original poster

 

[topcat]

Gilbert wouldn't win on the Lombardia routes since then except for 2014. And he wouldn't compete on routes like Tokyo '21.

And Pog wouldn’t win PR. Pog is unlikely to win the WRR or the Tour of Beijing.
Also Gilbert was more manly and had more charisma.
Phil a better classics rider (so far).

 

[Savant12]

And Pog wouldn’t win PR. Pog is unlikely to win the WRR or the Tour of Beijing.
Also Gilbert was more manly and had more charisma.
Phil a better classics rider (so far).

Why do you think he couldn't? Did you not watch him on that Tour stage on pavé? He's pretty handy on rough terrain.

 

[Valanga]

What I would like to know. If Remco was in pogs position during the Tour, with the amount of following Vingo did, how many pairs of handle bars would Remco get through, by banging them umpteen times during the stages when Vingo didn't come through for a pull.

None probably. He doesn't do this anymore.
Nowadays, when they don't take turns, he just increases the pace a little bit until they drop. Ask Pidcock ;-)

 

[Red Rick]

Tour cobbles stages aren't that similar to Paris Roubaix, but I also don't think Pogs lighter weight means he can't win.

It's more that his climbing ability and lighter weight won't give him a huge benefit compared to all the other riders.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

So does Remco look like a dock worker again? Maybe he doesn't have to trim down for the Vuelta after all: he will crush Skeletor with his hands only.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

None probably. He doesn't do this anymore.
Nowadays, when they don't take turns, he just increases the pace a little bit until they drop. Ask Pidcock ;-)

That has always been plan A, ever since the juniors. He didn't even ask for a turn (see Campenaerts in BBT, Masnada in AIR etc). Sometimes he asks, and if they don't want to, he drops them as well (Yates in CSS '22, Vine in Norway etc). But sometimes it doesn't work (Roglic, Colbrelli...).

 

[peterfin]

So what are Remco's chances to defend his rainbow colors? It's not the best route for him but somehow I think he will come close. He looks totally determined to defend his title. Typically that is enough.

 

[Pantani_lives]

So what are Remco's chances to defend his rainbow colors? It's not the best route for him but somehow I think he will come close. He looks totally determined to defend his title. Typically that is enough.

In theory this course is better for Van Aert, MvdP and Pedersen, with a lot of technical bends and no tough climbs. On the other hand Evenepoel has won the Belgian title on a course that wasn't supposed to suit him either. Among the Belgians it can be a matter of getting away first.

My guess is that an outsider will win. It can't always be the Big Six.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Cyclingnews currently writes „Evenepoel, Démare, Geoghegan Hart and Rodríguez fuel 2024 rider transfer market“…

Just asking, is Remco available for a transfer? I thought he‘s at QuickStep until end of 2026 (circa)?…

Who knows more? Thank you in advance…

 

[Flurk1982]

Cyclingnews currently writes „Evenepoel, Démare, Geoghegan Hart and Rodríguez fuel 2024 rider transfer market“…

Just asking, is Remco available for a transfer? I thought he‘s at QuickStep until end of 2026 (circa)?…

Who knows more? Thank you in advance…

They are saying Lefevre needs to find climbers to keep Remco satisfied. At the moment runours are Landa and Bouchard will join SQ...

 

[ThisFrenchGuy]

Patrick Lefevere has been complaining that inquiries were so incessant for Evenepoel they were "harassment" (in his usual moderate style). We know some people thought a little about what would be an acceptable contract buyout fee. It's definitely something in the air along with rumors of the rider's frustration and the team possibly being for sale. It's not guaranteed by any means but likely contingent on SQS building a team around him for the Tour.

 

[Oldermanish]

Why do you think he couldn't? Did you not watch him on that Tour stage on pavé? He's pretty handy on rough terrain.

He was racing to stay out of trouble with a GC pack, rather than dedicated one-day PR teams. Big Difference.

 

[Savant12]

He was racing to stay out of trouble with a GC pack, rather than dedicated one-day PR teams. Big Difference.

I think you underestimate Pog's versatility on all terrains.

 

[Oldermanish]

They are saying Lefevre needs to find climbers to keep Remco satisfied. At the moment runours are Landa and Bouchard will join SQ...

Patrick will need more than that. He could finance a buyout of MvP's team and get a Green Jersey guy and decent flat ground support. Oh...he'll still need more climbers.

 

[Oldermanish]

I think you underestimate Pog's versatility on all terrains.

He's the one rider in any race I wouldn't underestimate. The comparison is semi-relevant at best. Most of the riders were competing to NOT CRASH out and lose time. That's much different than riding for the win in the cruelest and most prestigious one day event.
PS: every other potential stage hunter also knew Pog's first priority was riding safe, #2 was gaining time.

 

[hfer07]

They are saying Lefevre needs to find climbers to keep Remco satisfied. At the moment runours are Landa and Bouchard will join SQ...

Cyclingnews currently writes „Evenepoel, Démare, Geoghegan Hart and Rodríguez fuel 2024 rider transfer market“…

Just asking, is Remco available for a transfer? I thought he‘s at QuickStep until end of 2026 (circa)?…

Who knows more? Thank you in advance…

just another Lefevre scheme seeking to squeeze every Euro out of Remco's contract's value. I don't foresee this happening until 2025, unless INEOS gets so desperate to get a "brand name" incorporated, because I still wrestle with the idea of Remco being capable of fighting for a Tour de France title against Poga & Vinge in the next years TBH.

 

[ThisFrenchGuy]

Only way to know how Remco would do in the Tour is entering him... But it could also decrease his value if he is not competing as high as hoped.

I think he is chomping to the bits to try though. Would be a waste to wait for him to be 25 before making his big start.

 

[jaylew]

Cyclingnews currently writes „Evenepoel, Démare, Geoghegan Hart and Rodríguez fuel 2024 rider transfer market“…

Just asking, is Remco available for a transfer? I thought he‘s at QuickStep until end of 2026 (circa)?…

Who knows more? Thank you in advance…

Well, that same article mentions Jumbo-Visma as a possibility so I wouldn't take it too seriously since they need another GT GC rider like they need a hole in the head.

 

[Savant12]

He's the one rider in any race I wouldn't underestimate. The comparison is semi-relevant at best. Most of the riders were competing to NOT CRASH out and lose time. That's much different than riding for the win in the cruelest and most prestigious one day event.
PS: every other potential stage hunter also knew Pog's first priority was riding safe, #2 was gaining time.

You still haven't given a valid reason as to why Pog couldn't win PR?
Doesn't have the power, endurance, bike handling skills?

 

[Oldermanish]

You still haven't given a valid reason as to why Pog couldn't win PR?
Doesn't have the power, endurance, bike handling skills?

As Savant 12; you must have weaker powers of perception. I never said he couldn't win PR. I was comparing the Tour's trip on cobbles to the Real Thing.
Maybe Savant 1 can explain it....
He, Remco and all other hopefuls are only pretenders until they attempt it. IMO they don't need it to be great and they would have to prepare for it. Specialists dominate the race and you'd need to dedicate at least half a season to race it if you're a GT guy. Your GT form for the first half of the year would be a compromised prep and there's the possibility you'd break something.
What's your prognostication?

 

[houtdffan]

There is a greater difference between cobbled tour stages and PR

The PR specialists are often on donkey duty on a cobbled tour stage

 

[Peter von]

Only way to know how Remco would do in the Tour is entering him... But it could also decrease his value if he is not competing as high as hoped.

I think he is chomping to the bits to try though. Would be a waste to wait for him to be 25 before making his big start.

Yeah. But i Think there is a point where his hype will start to deflate if he doesn’t go to France in July. And I think we are approaching that point in time now.

and Remco will still be able to compete in the spring as well.